Curtain for vestibule-cars.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

E. OQHOLMES. CURTAIN FOR VESTIBULE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21. 1905.

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No. 820,195. PATBNTED MAY 8, 1906.

E. 0. HOLMES.

CURTAIN FOR VESTIBULE CARS. APPLICATION FILED 1120.21, 1905.

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IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD G. HOLMES, OF LUDLOW, KENTUCKY. CURTAIN FOR VESTIBULE-CARS.

No. 820,195. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 8, 1906. Application filed December 21,1905. Serial No. 292,876.

tail horizontal section of the roller end of the curtain drawn out to its releasing length. Fig. 7 is a similar section under normal conditions. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a portion of the curtain, showing the releasing- 6o strip.

1 and 2 represent half of the vestibules of two cars 3 and 4, 5 and 6 being the platformdoors covering the steps, and 7 and 8 the exit-doors from the vestibule. 9 and 10 are 65 the diaphragm-frames, and 11 and 12 the usual rubber diaphragm folds, and 13 and 14 two of the diaphragrmposts for the two cars on one side of the passage-way.

Mounted vertically in the diaphragm-post.- 7o 13 is the curtain-roller 15, upon which is wound the curtain 16, which passes out through a slot 17 in the diaphragm-posts, the usual springs on the roller 15 being provided to send up the curtain when it is not in use. 7 5 The vertical outer edge of the curtain is provided with a tube or rod 17, which is usually hollow and around which the curtain is bound to protect the outer edge. Olamped around this tube 17 and held by screws 18 18 80 is a rectangular handle 19.

All of the parts so far described are of the usual and ordinary construction, and it is usual to provide on the vestibule-posts 14 a fixed hook, over which the handle is passed to 8 5 hold the curtain in place.

Instead of providing a small rectangular handle and a fixed hook, which necessitates the unhooking of the handl to allow the curtain to wind up when the cars are cut apart, I provide as follows: A suitable recess 20 is formed in the diaphragm-post 14, which re cess is covered and protected by the slotted escutcheon-plate 21. Pivoted on the vertical pin 22 in this recess is the catch 28, provided with two prongs 24 25. The side arms of the handle 19 are recessed and slotted on their inner ed e and carry the bar 26 to slide therein, coile springs 27 being mounted in the recess andbearin against the ends 28 of 100 this bar, so as normal to hold it in its outer position, as shown in Flg. 3. Secured on this bar is a flexible strip of tape 29 or other suitable material. This flexible strip 29 runs back along the curtain material and is se- 105 curely looped and fastened around the curtain-roller 15. This strip 29 is not as long as the curtain itself, and at its inner end the curtain is cut away around the roller 15, so as to permit the band 29 to be secured loosely 110 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. I-IoLMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lud low, county of Kenton, and State of Ken- 5 tucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtains for Vestibule- Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

It has long been customary in the operation of vestibule-cars on railroads to provide a curtain on each side of the vestibule passage-way to cover up the flexible folds and the contact-surfaces of the diaphragm-frame incidentally to keep out the dust and dirt, but more especially to prevent injury to passengers and others in the movement of the diaphragm-plates on each other under the shifting of the cars when in motion in rounding curves and the like. In order that these curtains may not be torn or destroyed when the cars are separated by reason of the carelessness of an employee in failing to unhook 2 5 the curtains, devices have been employed to release the retaining-hooks automatically as the cars are pulled apart.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a certain novel construction, to be herein 30 particularly pointed out and claimed,where y when the curtains are drawn out beyond their normal point of extension the retaininghooks shall be automatically released.

The principle of my invention, which will be hereinafter specifically described, consists in providing what may be called a working length and a releasing length for the curtain and in arranging a hook which under normal conditions shall be kept in fixed position 4 to hold the curtain; but as soon as the curtain shall be drawn out beyond its working length by the cutting apart of thecars, and before the curtain is completely unwoun from its roller shall be released, so that the curtain may be wound up by the shade-roller spring without damage.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inside of the vestibule of two vestibule-cars with the protecting-curtain in .50 place. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of same. Fig. 3 1s a front elevation of my improved catch with the curtain-handle in place. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of same. Fig. 5 is a similar horizontal section showing the ourtain in its released position. Fig. 6 is a de- Stlll around the roller, as shown at 30 in Fig. 6, to loop 30 and be applied to om in any way causing a strain passes through a slot 31 in the tube or rod 17, and a strip of permit the roller to turn on the to prevent any strain that may the strip 29 fr on the curtain.

This strip 29 curtain material 32 is preferably as to inclose the str1p provided, so

full length of extension there will rial around the roller 15.

In order to secure the curtain in place, the r of the handle 19 is placed over the prong 24 of the catch 26 is placed under the prong 25. evident that'when the curtain is thus secured over the catch 23 and there are a number of turns of the curtain material and flexible strip 29 around the roller 15, as shown in Fig. 7, the curtain will be securely locked in place, the bar 26 under the prong 25 of the catch rigidly holding the catch in position, as .shown in Fig. 4, with the bar 26 pressed against the escutcheon-plate 21, and it will be also evident that under normal conditions the pull on the curtain in the shifting of the cars in roundin curves and the like will only tend to cause t e catch to maintaii a firmer hold on the curtain-handle. A slot 33 is provided in the escutcheon-plate to allow catch to turn back into the recess 20 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and it will be evident that if the cars are cut apart and t e curtain unwound from the roller It w1ll be more quickly the bar Wlll be that thereu on before the curtain has a chance tounwind i illly the front bar of the handle 19 will pull back the catch and slide off of the 24 and the curtain be released to be wound up by the roller without any damage Normally this catch thrown up in front of the fixed catch.

it 1nto a e one or more turns of the curtain mate- 23 and the sliding bar I provide the lever will stand in a position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) out of the pathway of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a curtain-roller and curtain, of a handle for holding the curtain, with a releasing device for the handle, and connection therefor with the curtainroller of shorter length than the curtain, whereby upon drawing out the curtain beyond its normal extension the vice will be actuated.

2. The combination, with a curtain-roller and curtain, of a handle for holding the cur- .tain, with a releasing device for the handle, and connection therefor with the roller of shorter length than the curtain, and a pivoted catch to retain the handle, operation by said releasing device, until said device is actuated by drawing out the curtain beyond its normal extension.

3. The combination with and curtain, of

and a pivoted catch with pron s in opposite direction, one prong engaging th the other the sliding bar whereby said handle is locked until the bar is Withdrawn.

In combination with abutting car-vestibules, with a curtain-roller and curtain secured on one car, and a pivoted catch for holding the curtain secured on the other car, of means for locking the catch in operative position, and a flexible strip of shorter len th than the curtain connecting said lOCkiIl means with said curtain-roller for shifting said locking means to release the catch when the cars are cut apart.

5. In combination with abutting car-vestibules, with a curtain-roller and curtain seflexible strip of shorter length than the curtain connecting said slidin bar with the cur tain-roller to shift said 100 ring-bar to release said catch when the cars are out a art.

EDWARD C. H LMES. Witnesses:

CLARENCE E. MEHLHOPE, GLENA PRITOHARD.

releasing de- 

